Stingy on the Napkins
08.26.07 - 11:30pm
Every year I have this tradition of picking up Noah’s bagels for my team since training is early in the morning. I have the option of getting it catered, but it’s 1) more economical and 2) a nice gesture where I do something for them. I called and pre-ordered them (so that I could determine the bagel porportions) and arrived at the store early in the morning to pick them up. The lady reopened the Baker’s Dozen box of bagels that was already filled with bagels, put in a plastic bag (for storage of leftover bagels later), then two knives, and a stack of napkins. I then watched her reconsider and take 75% percent of the stack of napkins and return it to the shelf leaving me about 5 napkins for 13 bagels.
I asked the lady at the register for more napkins and knives because the two knives would most likely be used for the two tubs of schmear leaving no knives for halving the bagels. At that point, she told me that she could put the bagels through the slicer for me. Although neat, I declined due to lack of time.
I asked her for more napkins, again. She was reluctant, grabbed a small stack and said, “We’re not supposed to…”
Is there a napkin shortage going on? I don’t think my request of at least 13 napkins was outrageous - one for each bagel - because if I bought the bagels individually I would have gotten at least one napkin for each bagel.
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